B Vitamins Protect Against Breast Cancer

Q. I read that taking vitamin B6 and folic acid can protect against breast cancer if you drink wine. What is an adequate amount of each vitamin per day?
A. Researchers have found that women who consume alcohol are at higher risk of breast cancer. The danger seems lower in women who get plenty of foods rich in B vitamins (liver, peanuts, split peas, avocados, collards, brewer’s yeast, prunes, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnip greens and broccoli). A regular multi-vitamin should also supply adequate folic acid (400 micrograms).
Q. Can Lipitor affect memory and mental sharpness? My husband, a smart, successful lawyer, is having a lot of trouble remembering names and sometimes can’t come up with the right word in a conversation, as though he’s in a fog.
I worry that he might be developing Alzheimer’s disease, but at 54 he seems too young. He is not as active as he used to be: he doesn’t have the stamina to run or play tennis, and he has pain in his legs and arms.
A. Statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicines such as Lipitor, Zocor, Lescol and Pravachol save countless lives by preventing heart disease. Most people tolerate these drugs well, but some report difficulties with mood, memory or muscles.
One reader wrote, “You once mentioned memory problems with Lipitor. What a godsend! I thought I was losing my mind. I got off that drug, and within two weeks my memory was restored. It had gotten very scary bad!”
We are sending you our Guides to Heart Health and Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs for more details on statins and other alternatives for controlling cholesterol. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. CL-75, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
No one should stop any prescription drug without medical supervision. Your husband needs a thorough neurological workup to rule out any other condition.
Q. I have been using Vanceril for asthma and Beconase for allergies over the last several years. An optometrist warned me that he often sees cases of cataracts in people using such steroids.
My allergist is not aware of an increased incidence of cataracts among patients on these drugs. How will long-term use of these medicines affect my eyes?
A. Inhaled steroids have revolutionized the treatment of both asthma and allergy by controlling inflammation. With drugs like beclomethasone (Beconase, Vanceril), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort) and fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), lower doses are delivered directly to the nose and lungs. This reduces the risks associated with oral corticosteroids like prednisone.
Studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine (July 3, 1997) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (Aug 12, 1998) have shown that even inhaled steroids can increase the risk of cataracts if used in high doses for years. Official prescribing information lists cataracts as a rare side effect, so please stay in touch with your eye doctor.
Q. Is it true that tea prevents iron absorption? I drink one to two cups per day of decaf green tea. Is that enough to be a problem?
A. Tea-decaf or full caf, green or black–can interfere with absorption of iron in the same meal. Take your iron or eat your spinach at a meal without tea.